Average Indian would like to hang contemporary art in his space however nude art still remains a huge issue. Indians like to be fashionable in each sphere but the values cannot be change - so as of now there are meagre chances that nude art will be allowed to hang on the walls in our living rooms.

NUDITY MIGHT be a part of Indian culture but question remains unreciprocated that whether the country is ready for nude art? Even artists like late MF Hussain had to face danger after painting nude Hindu deities and Bharat Mata, which hurt the religious and patriotic sentiments of billions of Hindus. Photographic exhibitions of nudes are highly appreciated by art lovers in India. It might indicate that many people are now comfortable in accepting nudes on their picture frames; however it is difficult for others to hang these pictures in their living space.

The Delhi based photo-artist Sunil Gupta’s latest exhibition, themed on homosexuality and titled ‘Sun City & Other Stories’, has been closed down just a day after its preview at Galerie Romain Rolland Alliance Francaise. The show which was a fictional narrative inspired by French fila, La Jetée was to remain open till April 15 and had begun on March 23. The cops stormed into the venue and immediately forced it to close down as there were adult and nude photos on ‘display’.

“I don’t understand why people in India build an issue of nudity? The nudes captured in various poses drew responses ranging from surprise and awe to sheer joy. The women end up bulk of spectators and buyers. Indian art lovers are gradually accepting nude art because they are aware of the trends in the West and developing a new attitude,” said Rachna Parihar, a Shillong based artist. “It is very easy to blindly follow western trends but it is not acceptable in our society to hang nude art inside our residences. One side we are trying to stop crime against women such as rape, molestation etc. But on other side if we encourage nude art then we never imagine to stop these cases as it is all associated with a nude desire,” said Gogina Barua, a homemaker from Kolkata.

Despite all controversies, artists in India are constantly painting and displaying their nude art in different parts of the country. The artists consider that there should be separate genre for nude studies and language of the nude is one that steps into the broad range of class. The nude expresses essence of emotion that stems from anger, love abhorrence, control, desire, and dump.

“Why these artists like to paint women in nude, why not males? This is question of women dignity and women should keep themselves away from this. It is against our culture. We should preserve it. The artists can paint anything to earn but they like to paint nude art to earn extra bucks. The exposure is obviously in metropolitans so people just like to grasp the exhibition,” said Mahesh Mendatta, an instructor with an art gallery in Mumbai.

Art should be noticed as presenting the artist’s thoughts and there are galleries, which are in full support of such artists. Does it sell? The artists have seen success in terms of buyers. Well, in India definitely nude art sells, there are people who appreciate and want to put it on their walls. The art is considered the highest form of analysis, today there might be few takers of nude art but appreciation is immense for nude artists and which keeps them going. With changing style, the experimentation on this turf is rising and slowly audience will accept it.

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